Nintendo News: Tetris® 99 Hard Drops a Free Update With Team Battle Mode and Additional Features in Lead-up to 10th MAXIMUS CUP

6 months ago

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The fierce and frenzied 99-person multiplayer matches of the Tetris® 99 game just got even more intense with the addition of Team Battle Mode. Typically, it’s every tenacious Tetrimino twirler for themselves, but now Team Battle Mode allows for a group of friends and competitors to play together as a squad. And with the addition of a new password-based matchmaking feature, it’s easy to find and gather your friends for matches in the Tetris 99 and Team Battle modes.

In Team Battle Mode, players choose their favorite of four teams at the start of each game. Some teams may end up with many more members, but smaller teams receive a boost in attack power when being attacked, adding an unexpected element to each match. As players get eliminated through the course of battle, the final team standing with at least one player remaining wins. And even better, all members of the winning team can share in the victory! Players who are K.O.’d early in the game will go into spectator mode and can send “Likes” to cheer on their teammates. Players will want to stick around until their team has obtained a rank to receive their XP points. Or, if Team Battle is the active mode for a MAXIMUS CUP event, stay for their event points.

Additional features available in the update include new button configuration options and new user emblems, as well as the option to redeem 30 in-game tickets for some of the elusive Special Themes that were featured during earlier events. The following in-game Special Themes, which were inspired by games and favorite franchises, are now available: Tetris® from the original Game Boy™ game, Splatoon™, Fire Emblem™: Three Houses and Super Kirby Clash™.

The addition of Team Battle Mode also brings a new twist to the Tetris 99 10th MAXIMUS CUP, which runs from 11 p.m. PT on Dec. 12 to 10:59 p.m. PT on Dec. 16. The Tetris 99 10th MAXIMUS CUP will be available to all Nintendo Switch Online members* and will take full advantage of the new Team Battle Mode. Points will be awarded based on placements during each match, and at the end of the event the top 999 players will each win 999 Gold Points** that can be used to help purchase games in Nintendo eShop.

Tetris 99 features online competitive modes exclusive to Nintendo Switch Online members. Players who have the free digital version of the game can purchase the optional Big Block DLC, which adds several offline modes.

A physical version of Tetris 99 is also available. For a suggested retail price of $29.99, the physical version includes the game, all DLC and a 12-Month Nintendo Switch Online Individual Membership.***

*Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) and Nintendo Account required for online features. This game includes an in-game purchase option for users who do not have a membership. Not available in all countries. Internet access required for online features. Terms apply. https://nintendo.com/switch-online

***Included Nintendo Switch Online membership will auto-renew at the end of 12 months.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open to legal residents of the US and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are ages 13+ and Mexico who are 18+ and have access to a Nintendo Switch system, Tetris® 99 game, Internet access and a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Contest begins 11:00 PM PT on 12/12/19 and ends at 10:59 PM PT on 12/16/19. To participate, you must play Team Battle mode in the Tetris® 99 game during the Contest Period. There will be 999 winners, selected based on who accumulates the most event points during the Contest Period. You will be randomly assigned to one of four teams in the game and will have the opportunity to change teams prior to the start of the battle. If you are knocked out during the battle, you will remain as a spectator. If you exit the battle after being knocked out, event points will not be awarded. Each winner will receive 999 My Nintendo Gold Points (ARV per prize $10 US). Skill of participating players determines the winners. See Official Rules for details and restrictions. Tetris99.nintendo.com/rules. Sponsor: Nintendo of America Inc., 4600 150th Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052.